Beet-topper.



J. H. CAMPBELL.

BEET TOPPER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, NHL RENEWED AUG. 9. 1918.

1,280,156. Patented Oct. 1, 1918.,

2 SHEETSSHEET -1.

J. H. CAMPBELL.

BEET TOPPER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19. 917- RENEWED AUG. a I918.

' 1,280,156. Patented 00t.1,"191s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 49" 2 z 70 I 9 .9 /0 Q in 0 27 v 5 a Z 7 31400441201 [E fiz l JOHN CAMPBELL, 0F LOGAN, UTAH.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1918.

- Application filed March 19, 1917, Serial No. 155,852. Renewed August 9, 1918. Serial No. 249,174.

T 0 all 20710922. it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logan, in the county of Cache and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Beet- Topper, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of thisapplication is adapted to be employed for topping beets, one object of the invention being to provide a device of this kind in which the topping knives will accommodate themselves readily to vertical irregularities in the beets.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the topping knives, and their connections with other parts of the structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for sustaining the standards which carry the cutting knives.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the standards may be adjusted vertically, irrespective of the automatic adjustment of the standards with respect to the beets.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combina tion and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings 2- Figure 1 shows in side elevation, one material embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, distant parts being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 14 of Fig. 1 and essentially an end elevation;

Fig. 5 is abottom-plan showing one form of, foot and the knives which cooperate therewith; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental side elevation showing a modified form of foot.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a supporting structure of any desired kind, represented in the present instance by the beams 1 of a plow or cultivator. Applied to the outer faces of the beams 1 are offset sockets 2 having feet 3 united by securing elements 1 with the beams 1. Mounted in the sockets 2 and in the beams 1 are horizontal axles 5 carrying rollers 6. Standards 7 are mounted to reciprocate vertically between the rollers 6 upon the one hand, and between the sockets 2 and the outer faces of the beams 1 on the other hand. Below the beams 1, the standards 7 are supplied with relatively fixed abutments 8. Slidable vertically on the standards 7 and disposed above the abutments 8 are thrust plates 9 which bear against the under edges of the beams 1 under the action of lower compression springs 10 surrounding the standards 7 and interposed between the abutments 8 and the thrust plates. The standards 7 carry thrust plates 11, mounted to slide vertically on the standards and engaging the upper edges of th beams 1. Slidable vertically on the standards 7 and disposed above the thrust plates 11 are movable abutments 12. Compression springs 12% surround the standards 7 and are located between the abutments 12 and the thrust plates 11. The upper ends of the standards 7 preferably are of circular cross section and are threaded as shown at 15. Handle nuts 16 are mounted on the threaded portions 16 of the standards 7 and engage the movable abutments 12.

The lower ends of the standards 7 are connected by a foot which may be variously constructed. In one embodiment of the invention, the foot is in the form of a substantially horizontal plate 17 provided with side flanges 18 united by securing elements 19 with the lower ends of the standards 7. The plate 17 may include a front flange 20, which preferably is bulged or curved forwardly, so as to aid.in guiding the beets beneath the plate 17.

Disposed below the plate 17 are converging topping knives 21 and 22. The end 23 of the topping knife 21 is disposed opposite to the intermediate portion of the knife 22, but is spaced therefrom, to define a throat. The knives 21 and 22 terminate in forwardly presented upstanding U-shaped shanks 24, having, at their upper ends, cars 25, secured to the innersides of the standards 7 by means of attaching elements 26.

straddled on each beam 1 in front of the standards 7 are brackets 27 held in place by securing eiements 28, the brackets 27 having depending arms 29.

The numeral 80 denotes a pair of horizontal braces, the forward ends of which are pivoted as shown at 31 to the lower ends of the arms 29. The inner ends of the braces 30 terminate in forks 3:2 straddling the standards 7 below the fixed abutments 8, and attached thereto by the pivot elements 33.

In practical operation, when the structure forming the subject matter of this application is moved forwardly on the ground, the tops ofthe beets are received between the shanks 2a of the knives 21 and 22, the tops of the beets in this way being directed onto the curved front flange :20 of the foot plate 17. The beets pass beneath the foot plate 17, and the tops of the beets are cut otf by the knives 21 and :22, at a fixed distance below the ends of the bodies of the beets.

Since the standards 7 are mounted to slide vertically between the rollers 6, and since the standards are yieldingly sustained by means of the springs 10 and l i, the standards, and consequently the plate or foot 17 will accommodate themselves readily to irregularities in the vertical height of the beets. It is possible, further, to adjust the position of the plate or foot 17 with respect to the vertical, independently of the automatic adjustment thereof, by manipulating the handle nuts 16, to increase or decrease the pressure on the springs 14.

Obviously, the braces 30 prevent the standards 7 and the footplate 17 from swinging rearwardly due to the dragging action of the beets.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, a modified form of the invention has been shown. In said figure, the standards are denoted by the reference character 34. The foot may be represented by a roller 35, the trunnions 36 of which are j ournaled in the standards 34. The knives appear at 37 and are of the type hereinbefore described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described,-a support; standards mounted to move vertically on the support; abutments carried by the standards; compression springs interposed between the abutments and the lower edge of the support; adjustable elements carried by the upper ends of the standards; compression springs interposed between the adjustable elements and the upper edge of the support; a foot connecting the lower ends of the standards; and knives carried by the standards and extended beneath the foot. I

In a device of the class described, a support; standards mounted to reciprocate vertically on the support; means for yieldably controlling the vertical reciprocation oi. the standards; a foot connecting the lower ends of the standards; knives assembled with the standards and extended beneath the foot; arms depending from the support; and braces pivoted at one end to one arm, the other ends of the braces being pivoted to the standards.

3. In a device of the class described, a support; standards mounted to move vertically on the support; meansfor yieldably controlling the vertical movement of the standards; a foot connecting the lower ends of the standards; and cooperating knives disposed below the foot, the knives terminating in upstanding, forwardly presented bends projecting in front of the standards, and constituting means for guiding the beets to be topped, beneath the foot.

111 a device of the class described, a support; substantially vertical standards carried by the support; a foot connecting the lower ends of the standards; and cooperating knives disposed below the foot, the knives terminating in upstanding, forwardly presented bends projecting in front of the standards, and constituting means for guiding the beets to be topped, beneath the foot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. CAMPBELL.

lVitnesses H. E. Cnocnnrr, L. WESTERHOLM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

